CHURCH OUTREACH
Marnette Wilson, chair
Annie Reese, vice chair
Vernee Renfroe
Ronke Renfroe
Linder Yancy
Yvonne Whitfield
Janie Brown, exec. admin.
"They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:16 (NIV)
The Outreach Ministry covers the following areas:
Outreach Activities:
Emergency Outreach - access the needs of members who are facing a crisis situation - natural disasters, abuse, etc. Report back to Finance Committee and Pastor Brown to devise a plan to assist.
College Outreach - address the needs of college students attending Mt. Vernon
Care packages - for college students during finals and military members and for when they go back to school. Sponsor at least one outing for the students.
Thanksgiving Outreach - provide a thanksgiving meal for the needy. This may be accomplished by serving a large Thanksgiving Meal at the church and/or providing gift cards for food.
Christmas Outreach - provide gifts for 2 needy DHR families (one from Macon County; one from Lee County); also address the needs of needy families within the Mt. Vernon church family
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
Annual Food Drive - launch a food drive campaign in early June or July. Donations go to the local food bank.
County School Systems (Loachapoka and Notasulga) Outreach - address requests of local county schools as needed. Items such as supplies and assistance with field trips would be considered. Currently working with 3rd grade at LHS and have a member who is a new 2nd grade teacher at LHS. Schools also to include BTW in Tuskegee.
Clothe-A-Child (Lee Co. DHR) - request/donate funds to support this program which supplies underprivileged children with winter school clothes and shoes. Sometimes a special offering is lifted for this cause.
Back-to-School Supplies Drive - collect donations of school supplies for needy kids in the community.
Assist Other Ministries Where Appropriate - participate in church events such as the Church Anniversary, Pastor Anniversary, Senior Citizen Day, Health Fair, Vacation Bible School, etc.
Annual Dues: $30
2016 ACTIVITIES
- BIG EVENT - Women's Ministry led the by organizing a Mt. Vernon "Big Event" in March 2016. The church provided volunteers and supplies to paint and partially refurnish the living area of a senior. The yard was raked and the kitchen was cleaned. Women's ministry volunteers along with deacons and other volunteers worked with students from Auburn University's Big Event program.
- 30 college care/study packs (Fall and Spring during finals); also reaching out to "home grown" Mt. Vernon college students who are away at college.
- 100 back to school packs for elementary and high school students; (6 for preschool)
- Welcome back students fellowship/potluck meal
- $300 Lee County DHR Clothe-A-Child program
- $200 Loachapoka teachers' appreciation and May Day celebrations ($100 each)
- Child Advocacy Center, In addition to snacks and juice boxes for the Center, requested donations to help build gift baskets for their fundraiser in July. Items were donated to build a baby themed basket.
- The Total Health Ministry hosted a BLANKET DRIVE to donate 150 blankets to the community in honor of the 150th church anniversary. 25 blankets were donated to the child advocacy center; 16 blankets were donated to Louisiana flood victims, 20 to The BigHouse Foundation (Opelika/Lee Co. foster kids); 26 to EAMC patients in the rehab wing, (senior citizens), emergency first responders ...
- SHOES4BOOKS drive for Jean Dean RIF (Reading is Fundamental) who is collecting shoes to exchange for money to purchase books to give to underserved kids. The shoes will go to a mission projects who provide shoes to those who don't have them and to families who enable them to start a business in their countries.
- $200 to a senior in need of assistance with prescription costs and food. An advocate was given the funds to oversee and assist the senior as needed. A care package was also given to this senior to encourage eating regular and balanced meals.
- Donate snacks/juice boxes to Child Advocacy Center quarterly (in December, March, June, and September).
- Mt. Vernon Adopted Christmas Families
2015 ACTIVITIES
- 30 college care/study packs (Fall and Spring during finals)
- 100 back to school packs for elementary and high school students; (6 for preschool)
- Welcome back students fellowship/potluck meal
- LHS - Loachapoka Schools received supplies. (Copy paper, hand sanitizer, G2 pens in multi colors, highlighters, and hand soap.) supplies given to Marcus Jackson - 2nd grade teacher; LHS
- Gas for seniors
APRIL PROJECT: Gas for Senior Citizens in need. Pastor Brown announced this on Sunday morning; 4 seniors have come forward requesting gas money.
- Mercy Medical $100 donation
- Senior Assistance with prescription medicine expenses
March Project: Our March project involved paying medicine/prescription bills for those in need - up to $100 each. The church covered 6 members of the community - 4 within the congregation; 2 unknown.
- $500 donation to the Child Advocacy Center for purchase of playground equipment
- Church-wide food drive was held in June for the East Alabama Food Bank.
- College Student outing April 2015 (skating)
- Outreach on behalf of a member who's home had been burgularized twice. Emergency food box and funds were issued along with donations from the congregation to help them get back on their feet.
Twin Cedars Child Advocacy Center Wish List
The church received a shout out on the Advocacy Center's Facebook page:
We have been very blessed with kind donations! Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church brought us 2 truckloads of snacks, drinks and paper supplies. The wonderful men of the Opelika Exchange Club gifted the Center with a doll that replicates Shaken Baby Syndrome. We will use this to educate the community on this very serious matter. Once again, we are grateful for those who understand our mission. We also received donations in the honor of Mrs. Kitty Sue Gregory. Our hopes are to construct a playground in her honor at the Center.
- One fan was requested by a senior in the Senior Care Servicesprogram. The fan was purchased by the church and delivered to the senior by his/her advocate or a deacon.
- Outreach to set up a COMMUNITY RESOURCES table at the annual Fall Community Health Fair.
2014 ACTIVITIES
- Annual Food Drive/Fundraiser: donated over 400 nonperishable items to the Food Bank of East Alabama
- Back to School Supplies: COMING IN JULY
- College Outreach: prepare study care packs for students - donated 30 packs full of snacks, supplies and goodies to students who regularly attend Mt. Vernon services. Distributed one in spring semester; preparing a welcome pack for students for the fall semester.
- Assessed ? emergency/crisis situations (3 medical crisis situations for seniors - 1 non-member)
- School outreach - contributed supplies to classroom at Loachapoka Elementary School (Jackson 2nd grade class) and to Ms. Carr at Notasulga Schools (ink cartridges); also referred Notasulga to possible resources available through AU.
- Clothe-a-child - donated $300 to the DHR program (donation from church supplemented by Outreach funds)
- Thanksgiving Outreach
- Christmas Outreach
2013 ACTIVITIES
- Annual Food Drive/Fundraiser: donated $200 to the Food Bank of East Alabama
- Back to School Supplies: contributed school supplies and/or backpacks to over 100 kids; provided supplemental supplies for the tutorial program at Mt. Vernon
- College Outreach: prepared study care packs for students - donated 25 packs full of snacks, supplies and goodies to students who regularly attend Mt. Vernon services. Distributed one in spring semester; preparing a welcome pack for students.
- Assessed 3 emergency/crisis situations (2 house fire loss, 1 senior home damage)
- School outreach - contributed supplies to classroom at Loachapoka Elementary School (Jackson 2nd grade class)
- Clothe-a-child - donated $300 to the DHR program (donations from congregation supplemented by Outreach funds)
- Thanksgiving Outreach
- Christmas Outreach
2012 ACTIVITIES
- Summer Food Drive
- Back to School Supplies
- Thanksgiving Outreach
- Christmas Outreach
2011 ACTIVITIES
2011 Christmas Outeach
Details to come.
2011 Thanksgiving Outreach
If you are a college student who will be in town for Thanksgiving, if you are age 62 and over and/or disabled, or if you know someone who is in either of these categories that needs a Thanksgiving meal, please notify a member of Outreach by next Sunday, October 30th. This offer is for members and non-members. Thanksgiving Meals will be delivered on Thanksgiving Day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. DELIVERY IS LIMITED TO THOSE HOMEBOUND PERSONS NOT PHYSICALLY ABLE TO COME TO THE CHURCH. Those in need who would like to come to the church Thanksgiving Day for a meal may do so between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. We will also need those names by next Sunday so we can prepare enough food. If you are able to assist in preparing Thanksgiving Meals or deliver Thanksgiving Meals, we would appreciate your help also. We plan to be through with everything by 2:00 p.m. or before so that we can enjoy our families. Please notify a member of Outreach of your availability.
Special collection for victims of April Tornadoes/Storms
A special offering was taken up to assist persons affected by the devastating storms.
2011 Food Drive Blitz:
To support this Food Drive bring in the following items in June and July:
- June 5th - Canned Meats
- June 12th - Boxed Crackers
- June 19th - Pancake Mix and Syrup
- June 26th - Flour & Cornmeal
- July 3rd - Pasta, Beans, Rice
- July 10th - Peanut Butter & Jelly
- July 17th - Boxed Pies & Cakes
- July 24th - Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressing, relish, pickles)
- July 31st - Cereal, Grits, Cream of Wheat, Oatmeal
Collected food will be donated to those in need with the local Food Bank being the primary recipient.
If you'd like to make a monetary donation to go towards the outreach activities of Mount Vernon, please send a check or money order payable to Mount Vernon. If you'd like to work with the committee, contact Marnette Wilson at marnetteogletree@aol.com .
Check back for updates and have a blessed day!
Loachapoka Elementary School - 3rd Grade field trip
Assisted with cost of trip to Georgia Aquarium.
